Before Kobe Bryant became a five-time NBA champion and one of basketball’s most recognizable figures, he wore No. 33 for Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania. More than three decades later, a jersey from that period has become one of the most valuable pieces of high school basketball memorabilia ever sold.
The maroon game-worn uniform from Bryant’s junior season in 1994-95 sold for $2,176,000 at Sotheby’s on Oct. 28, 2026. The sale established a new auction record for a high school basketball jersey, surpassing the previous mark set by a LeBron James jersey that fetched $1.3 million in 2024.
The result was particularly remarkable because the same jersey and accompanying shorts sold for just $51,400 through Goldin Auctions in 2013. The latest transaction represents approximately 42 times that earlier sale price.
The jersey’s first appearance at auction followed a legal dispute between Bryant and his mother, Pamela, over memorabilia she had consigned for sale. A settlement eventually allowed six items to be auctioned, including the Lower Merion uniform, which went to a private collector.
Its authenticity also contributed to its historical significance. Experts photo-matched the maroon No. 33 jersey to images from Bryant’s 1995 high school season, including a March playoff matchup against Hazleton Area. Bryant recorded 33 points and 15 rebounds in that game despite Lower Merion losing in overtime.